Rental Operations

Auto Recalls Reach 53.2 Million in 2016

Automakers recalled a record 53.2 million vehicles last year in the United States, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

In 2016, there was a total of 927 recalls, according to NHTSA. That means there was an average of 2.5 recalls per day and 145,753 vehicles affected daily.

The recall of Takata Corp. airbag inflators has added to the climbing number of recalls. As of December 2016, there were 46 million recalled Takata airbag inflators in 29 million vehicles in the U.S., according to NHTSA. Over the next three years, automakers must recall additional inflators. The recalls will eventually affect up to 69 million inflators in 42 million total recalled vehicles.

2016 is the third year in a row that U.S. vehicle safety recalls have set a record.

Vehicles affected

Affected Per day

Recalls

Average Recalls

(Million)

Total

(Per day)

2014

51

139,726

779

2.1

2015

51.2

140,274

868

2.4

2016

53.2

145,753

927

2.5

Data courtesy of NHTSA

In 2015, 51.2 million vehicles in the U.S. were affected by recalls. There was a total of 868 recalls — an average of 2.4 recalls per day and 140,274 vehicles affected daily, according to NHTSA. In 2014, 51 million vehicles were recalled in the U.S. There was a total of 779 recalls — an average of 2.1 recalls per day and 139,726 vehicles affected daily.

From 1996 to 2013, annual U.S. auto recalls ranged from 10.2 million to 30.8 million, according to NHTSA.